After All

Chapter 3

"What's all that fuss about?" Emma asked herself as she woke up.

Opening the door and going upstairs, the princess saw everybody running from one side to another.

"Hey beautiful. You woke up early" the captain said, standing next to the rudder. 

"I would've slept longer if your men hadn't made so much noise. And don't call me-"

"I know I know, just Emma. For being a princess you are rude"

"For being a pirate you're too soft"

"Is that so? You know nothing about me"

"Neither you about me" They stood in silence for a while until Emma saw a named tattooed on one of his arms "Who's Milah?"

Killian covered the tattoo with the coat's sleeve.

"She was an important person to me"

"Was she your loved one?"

He didn't answer. Talking about Milah and everything that concerned that fatal situation was too painful.
Emma felt sorry for him, though the feeling wasn't going to last long.

"Captain" Smee interrupted "Everything's ready"

"Good. Give it to me" Smee handed him a small bean before leaving.

"We're traveling by portal, right? Where are we heading to?" Emma asked as she looked at the magic object.

"I'm not sure you can handle it"

"Don't assume things. Just tell me"

Killian made a pause, trying to create a suspensive scene. Emma felt like punching him on the face.

"Neverland"

Emma gave him a 'that was a nice joke' look, however, Killian remained serious.

"Neverland?! You know what sort of perils reside in that island? Mermaids and an evil guy who apparently does not grow and has a troop of crazy kids!"

"You missed the shadows that serve him but yeah, that's a pretty nice introduction"

"I refuse to go"

"Fine, you can stay in the ship while we go to the island"

"That's not enough. There's danger even if I stay aboard"

"You are now stepping in my ship, which means you must follow my orders because I'm the Captain. If I say we're going to Neverland you can't deny, unless of course you want to have sharks as company" Hook said almost yelling.

Ugh! She hated him so much. He was such and idiot. She couldn't stand another minute next to Killian Jones. Nonethless, she would rather stay in the Jolly Roger than throw herself to the ocean.

"Wise decision" he said. He felt he had been too tough with her, but that woman drove him nuts! Her irritating attitude was annoying. "We were the ones who saved you remember?"

"That doesn't mean you have any right on me"

Putting aside his anger, Hook threw the bean to the water and lead the ship through the whirlpool.

Everything happened so fast that Emma didn't have time to hold on to something. It was such the power and strength the whirlpool created that she was about to fall to the water.
She thought she was going to drown and eventually die. The only persons that came to her mind were her parents.

Unexpectedly, Killian stretched out his hook as Emma grabbed it. He used all his strength to pull her and try to control the rudder at the same time. He felt his arms would break apart in any moment.

Finally, The Jolly Roger came out of the water portal, landing on a calmed but dark ocean under a starred sky.

"We did it!" Some men said. "We have arrived"

Emma realized she was still holding the pirate's hook and immediately let go of it.

"I... Thanks... For saving me" she managed to say.

"I may be the bad guy, but I don't leave innocent people to die"

Emma smiled grateful and took a look around. Some miles away, a big and leafy island stood.

Neverland. Emma thought with fear. What would Hook and his men yearn hardly that they are willing to risk their lives in this place?

"Everything ready?" The captain asked.

"Yes, sir"

"Alright. Let's do this"